Mountain lions are not true lions and cannot roar; they hold the Guinness record for animal with the most names — with over 40 names in English alone; Proportionally they have the largest hind legs in the cat family.

New Mountain Lion!

Background Information

The Desert Museum traditionally adopts orphaned mountain lions, which have not been suitable for release into the wild, including the Museum's newest addition, a five and a half-month-old male cub found in San Jose, CA in March weighing only 15 lbs. Rescued and nursed back to health by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, but unsuitable for reintroduction into the wild, its adoption by the Desert Museum was arranged through the Arizona Game and Fish Department.

Statistics

Naming Contest

My name is Cruz!

My name was submitted by Darlene Baty of Tucson, Arizona, and references the Santa Cruz river that runs through the Sonoran Desert.

Cruz was selected as the winning name from over 1400 submissions. Entries came in from 34 states and the District of Columbia, and 6 foreign countries. The list was narrowed down to 10, and Museum staff, docents, and volunteers voted to determine the winner.

I have grown since making my home at the Desert Museum:

I now weigh about 65 pounds!

I love to swim and interact with children of all ages.

My favorite toy is my red jolly ball.

Other top 5 names were:

Ousei, which means Mountain Lion in Yaqui (submitted by Luann Read)

J Edgar Cougar (submitted by Jena McLaughlin)

Cereus George (submitted by Martha Lundgren)

Ta&scedil;, which means Sun in O'Odham (submitted by Rachel Muscat)

The mountain lion has been an iconic symbol of the Desert Museum for many years and in the past the Museum's male mountain lions have always been named George L. Mountainlion. "The Museum will continue to embrace this tradition using the iconic image and name, however, the reigning George L. has retired and this cub needs a name. So, the decision was made to invite the community to help the Museum name the new cub," states Executive Director, Craig Ivanyi.